US 'fools' blocking 26,000 guns

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called into question his country's ties with the US.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has chided the US for stopping the sale of 26,000 assault rifles over concerns about human rights violations during Mr Duterte's war on drugs. He said he might turn to China and Russia for them. "Look at these monkeys, the 26,000 firearms we wanted to buy, they don't want to sell,” Mr Duterte said. "We have many home-made guns here. These American fools.” Mr Duterte's tirades against the past colonial power are the norm. He said he had lost respect for the country's strongest ally.